Release Detail

December 19, 2002 - Bush, Pataki Approval At Pre-September 11 Levels,
Quinnipiac University Poll Finds;
Bush Vs. Sen. Clinton Would Be Close In New York

New York State voters approve 58 - 31 percent of the job Gov. George Pataki is doing,
according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This is down from the 81 - 12 percent approval for Gov. Pataki measured in an
October 2, 2001, poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, and
comparable to a 56 - 30 percent approval on June 26, 2001.

President George W. Bush has a 51 - 42 percent approval, down from 82 - 15
percent approval October 2, 2001, but better than his negative 44 - 47 percent rating
June 28, 2001.

New York State voters split 46 - 44 percent on whether President Bush should
keep Vice President Dick Cheney on the 2002 reelection ticket.

If Bush replaces Cheney, New Yorkers split 45 - 46 percent on whether Pataki
should be the running mate.

"New Yorkers still like the job Gov. Pataki is doing in Albany, but he's slipped
back to his pre-9/11 job approval. Voters split down the middle over whether their
Governor should go to Washington," said Maurice Carroll director of the Quinnipiac
University Polling Institute.

"Next question: What will Pataki do? Four more years in Albany, most New
Yorkers think."

Pataki will serve his full third term, 85 percent of voters expect.

A total of 51 percent of New York voters are "very satisfied" or "somewhat
satisfied" with the way things are going in the state today, with 48 percent who are
"somewhat dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied." This is the lowest rating since Quinnipiac
University began measuring satisfaction in New York in December, 1997.

Former Vice President Al Gore would have given President Bush a run for his
money in New York State, with voters splitting 48 - 47 percent in an early look at the 2004
race.

Sen. Hillary Clinton trails Bush 48 - 45 percent.

Among Democrats, Gore led the possible pack with 40 percent, followed by Sen.
Clinton with 24 percent and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry with 11 percent. No other
Democratic contender broke out of single digits.

From December 9 - 16, Quinnipiac University surveyed 999 New York State
registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent. The survey includes 382
Democrats with a margin of error of 5 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and
nationwide as a public service and for research.

For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu or call (203) 582-5201

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George Pataki is handling his job
as Governor?

5. Do you think George Pataki will serve out his entire 4 year term as governor
or not?

Union
Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom HsHolds

Yes 85% 89% 84% 85% 86% 85% 86%
No 7 6 7 6 6 8 7
DK/NA 8 5 8 9 8 8 7

UpState..... UpState
Urban Othr total NYC Sub

Yes 83% 88% 87% 83% 87%
No 8 6 7 8 4
DK/NA 9 6 7 9 9

6. - Now I'm going to name eight Democrats who might run for president in 2004.
After I read all eight names, tell me which one you would most like to see the
Democrats nominate for president in 2004. Here are the choices...
Former Vice President Al Gore, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senate
Democratic leader Tom Daschle, Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, Massachusetts
Senator John Kerry, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, North Carolina Senator
John Edwards, or Vermont Governor Howard Dean?

9. Thinking about the next presidential election, do you think George W. Bush
should keep Dick Cheney on the ticket as vice president or do you think Bush
should consider replacing Cheney with a different running mate?